Wow.  Mystic 5.  It’s over, it was amazing.  When my partner Jennie mentioned the conference months ago, I read through the itinerary and saw only one name, Joe McNally.  He was the reason I had signed on to go.  He’s been a hero of mine for quite awhile.  A veteran who’s shot the world and done it beautifully.  Now I’m ashamed to say that he was the only real reason I signed up.  The list of photographers that spoke at the event were a veritable who’s who of wedding photography.  I hesitate to list any of their names here because I would be remiss if I were to accidentally omit even a single one.  So instead of singing the praises of each individual photographer or company, I will convey to you what the broad brush stroke of the event left indelibly etched into my soul…

Each photographer or photography team got up and spoke masterfully in each of their own unique styles.  They poured their heart and message through the microphone and splashed amazing images upon the silver screen (and for those of you who were there, the HDTV’s   I listened, I agreed with a lot of things and disagreed with a few, too.  I learned a tremendous amount about off camera flash, fearless available light photography and gizmos that can save time and money.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that there was a message being put out by every voice.  A simple message that, were you not listening with your heart, you may have missed it.  I have a theory about shows like Mystic 5.  If you go to a show of that ilk, whatever the trade or service you provide, over the three or four days of the seminar, you should shoot to walk away with at least 3 or 4 great ideas or inspirations.  I may have gotten those from this event, but I am still processing the data so the verdict is still out.  But I will say, those ideas or inspirations are vastly overshadowed by the ONE message I know I received.  Here it is, the simple message, the one that I hope know will change my outlook on Jennie and my business… be brave.

My last blog post was honest, it was real… and it caused a firestorm of debate.  After going to Mystic 5 I no longer have any trepidations about that post.  I wrote from the heart, the same way Jennie and I make images.  We believe in what we do and we believe that our customers are smart, savvy and when they read a post like that from us, they know that their wedding photographers are honest.  You see, every photographer that was standing on that stage was able to convey their message about their art and business because they believed in their work.  By the end of the conference having seen all the presenters it dawned on me that for them to get there, they didn’t just have to be great photographers.  For a long time they were just photographers.  How did they get there… by being brave.  They took that leap of belief in themselves that helped them transcend mediocrity and become someone that hundreds of us would want to hear from.  So that’s it, I’m being brave…  Walter, you can save Jennie and me a slot for Mystic 7